From the Senator's Desk . . .
February 8, 2007
We must protect people like Mary from the hundreds of dog attacks that take place in Texas every year. This week, we filed SB 411. Under the bill, if a person allows their dog to make an unprovoked attack that causes serious injury or death, it is a third degree felony. Also, the person is liable for up to $10,000 for the dog attack.
Written by Senator Eliot Shapleigh, www.shapleigh.org
"Taking Care of Mary Legorreta"
Last summer, I was walking precincts in Northeast El Paso. On Polk Street, I knocked on the door of Mary Legorreta, who greeted me and said “Senator, I am sure glad you came.”
Mary then spent nearly an hour telling me the horrifying tale of being attacked, mauled and almost killed by two pit bulls.
She spent weeks in the hospital and had to cash her IRA to pay hospital bills.
She asked me "Senator, what can we do?” Last week, we filed SB 411 to answer Mary’s question.
Under SB 411, if a person allows their dog to make an unprovoked attack that causes serious injury or death, it is a third degree felony. Also, the person is liable for up to $10,000 for the attack.
We must protect people like Mary from the hundreds of dog attacks that take place in Texas every year. On December 7, the Austin American-Statesman and the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram reported two separate incidences of pit bull attacks, injuring a woman, her daughter and a man. On January 16, the Houston Chronicle reported a neighbor's dog killing a 10-year-old girl.
Taking care of Texans means taking care of every day citizens like Mary Legorreta.
Keep the faith,
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